Starbucks to open 100 new stores in Malaysia

Global coffee chain Starbucks plans to open 100 new stores in Malaysia over the next four years.

The move forms part of the company's commitment to build the brand in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia.

In line with that move, Starbucks earlier announced plans to open 100 stores in Indonesia over the next three years, 100 new stores in the Philippines over the next four years and to double the number of stores in Thailand over the next five years.

Starbucks entered the Malaysian market with the opening of its first store at KL Plaza in Kuala Lumpur, in 1998 and currently has 141 stores in the country.

The American global coffee company at present operates more than 700 stores across six Southeast Asian markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and, most recently, Vietnam.

Starbucks China and Asia Pacific Channel Development and Emerging Brands group president John Culver said, "We will continue to build the Starbucks brand in Malaysia holistically, adding 100 new stores over the next four years, evaluating ways to expand across new channels like grocery and convenience stores, all while staying true to our core values of investing in our people and in the communities we serve."